̶̶̶𝐑̶̶̶𝐔̶̶̶𝐋̶̶̶𝐄̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝟏̶̶̶𝟏̶̶̶𝟏̶̶̶:̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐋̶̶̶𝐈̶̶̶𝐅̶̶̶𝐄̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐎̶̶̶𝐍̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶𝐇̶̶̶𝐄̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐎̶̶̶𝐔̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶𝐒̶̶̶𝐈̶̶̶𝐃̶̶̶𝐄̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐈̶̶̶𝐒̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐍̶̶̶𝐎̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐀̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐋̶̶̶𝐈̶̶̶𝐅̶̶̶𝐄̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐖̶̶̶𝐎̶̶̶𝐑̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶𝐇̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐋̶̶̶𝐈̶̶̶𝐕̶̶̶𝐈̶̶̶𝐍̶̶̶𝐆̶̶̶.̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐃̶̶̶𝐎̶̶̶𝐍̶̶̶'̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐅̶̶̶𝐎̶̶̶𝐑̶̶̶𝐆̶̶̶𝐄̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶ ̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶𝐇̶̶̶𝐀̶̶̶𝐓̶̶̶.̶̶̶

✷✷

"You need to do something – anything," Theo's voice greeted me. Abruptly, he turned on the lights, my eyes squinting in agony.

"I am doing something," my voice was groggy, hoarse from lack of talking. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes before pulling the comforter over my head, grumbling. "I'm mourning. I'm also laying down. On top of that, I think it's actually quite impossible to do nothing."

Theo let out a long sigh, the bed dipping down by my side. "It's been four weeks."

I threw the covers off my body, eyes locked in a scowl. "Are you implying my Pa only deserved to be mourned for four weeks, Theo?"

"That is not what I meant, and you know that," Theo's eyes watched over me as I crossed my arms over my chest in a dramatic fashion. Angrily, I got out of bed, kicking the sheets off my body. I looked in the mirror, smoothed my hair, and turned toward the bedroom door. "What are you – where are you going?"

I tilted my head, eyes narrowed further. "I'm going to do something. Maybe, I'll even do anything."

Theo did not follow me, and it was probably for the best. I was seething, breaths coming in hot and fast. My fingers longed to wring anything in their path. Taming the anger that festered within, I balled my fists at my side, took another few deep breaths, and marched down the stairs.

Despite still being clad in pajamas I had been wearing for the past week, I flung the front door open and started walking forward. I did not know where I was going; I just knew I had to get out of there. The light breeze offered some solace from my constraining thoughts.

It was the first time I properly left Theo's room since Pa's funeral. After having a depressing dinner with my family, I broke down in Theo's arms, and I hadn't been able to pick myself up since. Before the funeral, I was there – but not really there. After the funeral, it was like I had been the one buried six feet under. I knew that was an insult, to compare my living misery to the misery of those who actually endured physical afflictions that lead to a painful death. But, I couldn't help but feel that way, and it only piled on to the distress I was feeling.

And then Theo told me the news: Si was dead. His body was found near the Border – he did not make it far from the town center before a wolf put an end to him. His body was covered by shrubbery and fallen branches, so it had taken days to find him. Si never had to face the devastation he caused. He never had to live with the new traumatic reality he created. Instead, he got a way out, and I was so angry he'd never have time to feel sorrowful for Pa's premature death.

In my foggy state, I had not noticed I walked to the packhouse. I estimated it was a couple of miles trek, the fuzzy pajama pants almost becoming unbearably hot in the blistering sun. Deciding I would pop in for a refreshment and then leave (I had now spent an uncomfortable amount of time away from confinement), I opened the door and headed over to the kitchen, memories of my time here before my escape filling my mind.

In three months, I went from being scared and frightened of Theo to sleeping in the same bed. I had been taught to hate his every being – his every fiber – but I could no longer dilute myself into those thoughts.

"Sage," a familiar voice said.

My head reared back in surprise. I could recognize that voice anywhere: it was Memphis.

"Memphis?" I turned to the side. Memphis was sitting at a table, toying around with the silverware in front of him. However, he was not alone. "Wait, Gracie, Ember – what are you guys doing here?"

"We're 'assimilating'," Memphis used air quotes.

I grew conscious of the fact I hadn't brushed my hair in a couple of weeks. I was still wearing the same clothes for about the past week, which were now more of a second skin, and I had just walked a couple of miles here, my hair sticking to my face, cheeks heating. I did not want my friends to see me like this; of course, it was too late, but I quickly scanned the room for an escape route.

"Assimilating?" I asked, biting my bottom lip.

"Trying to, at least," Gracie mumbled, picking at her nails.

If I was in a better state of mind, I would have been relieved to see Gracie being her normal pessimistic self. I would have apologized for her being locked up in the basement beneath this packhouse.

Instead, I shifted my weight and asked, "what?"

"They brought Eva Longshire to help the Borderlanders assimilate into Outside culture," Memphis explained, his eyes softening. "We're really sorry for your loss – I'm really sorry for your loss, Sage. If I would have known–"

"–Memphis, it's not your fault–" I avoided eye contact, staring at my escape – the door that lead to the deck, back where I came from

"I can't believe Si –"

"–I'm fine," I interrupted, the mention of Si making my skin crawl. I desperately changed the subject as I edged closer to the back door, "so, how's the assimilating going?"

"Terrible," Memphis let out a long sigh. "Eva had her baby – I think she named it Rupert – and someone named Heath told us to just wait around until Eva was done recovering."

"Sounds like Heath," I murmured, turning on my heels.

"Where are you going?" Memphis asked.

"To find Heath," was all I said as I left in the direction of Heath's office.

While I never stepped foot in Heath's office before, I knew it was attached to the sitting area where Theo's office was. I never navigated to the office from downstairs before, but I would try my best to navigate my way there.

Once I reached the second floor, I closed my eyes and tried to retrace my steps. The hallways in the packhouse were winding and exhaustive. It took thirty minutes before I recognized the door to the Alpha Wing. From there, I was able to trace my steps to the offices. Stepping into the common area, there was no one around. Straight ahead was Theo's office – a room I was not unfamiliar with.

Luckily for me, Heath's name was bolted on the door to his office. Without thinking, I opened the door. His office was exactly what I would have imagined. It was a chaotic mess of papers everywhere. The top of his desk was not visible from all the different trinkets, cups, and papers that were placed on top of it. His office was a lot more barren than Theo's with just a desk and chair, and nowhere for me to sit.

Heath leaned back in his chair, feet crossed and laying on his desk. He was scrolling on his phone, laughing. He looked up when he heard me enter the room.

"Sage," Heath sat up, removing his feet from the desk, a few wrappers falling to the floor in the process. He frantically shuffled papers together to organize himself. I lifted an eyebrow in amusement. "Does Theo know you're here?"

"Of course," I lied, not wanting Heath to contact Theo as I walked closer to Heath's desk.

Heath nodded his head, his eyes hardening, "what do I owe the pleasure?"

I clapped my hands together. "I'm glad you asked. Why did you ask Eva Longshire to help the Borderlanders assimilate into society?"

"Well, she has gone through the same experience. She's the best person for the job," he responded, but his tone was questioning like he was not sure himself.

I folded my arms over my chest. "We both know that's not true. The Borderlands deserve better than Eva Longshire. She doesn't have their best interest at heart; she's probably just doing it for publicity, to prove she's been right all these years."

"Do you know of any better options?" Heath inquired, which was followed by a moment of silence. "Exactly."

"Me," my voice was so low even I had trouble discerning if the word even left my lips at all.

"What?"

"Me," I said bolder this time after having cleared my throat. "Me and my friends. Memphis has more experience on the Outside than I do. Ember was raised on the Outside, and Gracie, well, we'll figure something out, but she can help, too."

"I don't think–"

"–That's right. You aren't thinking. You halted all efforts to assimilate just because Eva gave birth. They deserve better than that," I glared at Heath, my anger boiling. Theo had told me Flynn and Heath were in charge of the Borderlanders, but I guess in doing so, Heath and Flynn had skirted off the responsibility to Eva, the absolute worse option available.

"Okay, you have a point," Heath agreed, "but... are you sure? You just lost your dad – I don't know."

I straightened up. "I did lose my Pa, but every Borderlander lost something four weeks ago. They can't just be kept in this cruel state of waiting."

Heath was silent, his face scrunched in concentration. Before he could speak again, I said, "tomorrow, bring the Borderlanders to wherever you've been having them meet up, and we'll start assimilating them."

"Okay."

A smile broke out on my lips as I nodded my head in satisfaction. However, my cheerful mood did not last long. Soon, the door to Heath's office opened. Right away, without turning around, I knew it was Theo.

"Come with me," was all he said. Hanging my head, I turned on my heel and followed him to his office. His office was much cleaner than Heath's. I began to walk to one of the velvet seats in front of his desk but he stopped me. He then proceeded to shut his office door.

The increasing anxiety started to build, and I blurted out. "You told me to do something– so I did. I did something. So, you can't get mad at me."

Bracing myself for his response, he said. "I'm proud of you."

"What?"

"I'm proud of you, Sage," he repeated, coming closer. His hand cupped my cheek, his eyes full of sincerity. My breath hitched in my chest, his breaths hot on my face.

"Oh," I let out, my eyes trapped in his gaze.

He leaned in closer, until our lips were mere centimeters apart, my entire body heating up. "You would make an exceptional Luna."

Theo looked into my eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and he said, "I love you."

I froze, still ensnared in his gaze.

"I love you, Sage," he said, whispering into my ear. "You don't–"

It was like something in me snapped, and I came to the realization: throughout my entire time on the Outside, Theo had been there for me. Sure, in the beginning, he had a terrible way of showing his support, but he was there when it mattered. No one beyond my family had ever been there for me like that, and I was tired of fighting against it.

So, without hesitation, I pulled Theo into a kiss.

Our kiss was light and airy, as we pulled each other closer, squeezing tight. It was like we could not get close enough, my mark searing in pleasure. Theo pressed deeper into the kiss, his wolf surfacing with a nibble on my lips. My hand trailed over his back, the bumps of his scars noticeable under his cloth shirt.

Slowly, I pulled away, placing my forehead on his. "These past few months you have shown me you're not the beast I've been raised to think you are. You are so much more; this world is so much more."

My hand fiddled with his curls, my head nestling into the side of his neck, lips on his ear. I whispered, "I'm yours."

Twirling me around, Theo responded, hot in my ear. "And just think, Sage, this is just the beginning."